9. April 2010 by student.

                Religion used to be a common place in our government and schools until it started fading during the progressive era, and ceased to exist in 1969.  But that isn’t how our system was set up.  Our founding fathers were deeply religious men, even Thomas Jefferson and George Washington which some textbooks would tell you otherwise, without any proof.  What isn’t taught anymore is that the foundation of our Government and America is religion.  That is what allowed the Government to be so small and restricted in the late 1700s and most of the 1800s.  The founders thought that we were morally good people, so they did not have to create laws to restrict us.  Because religion was so deep in society, being an atheist was unheard of, they thought that we wouldn’t hurt, kill, or do any bad things because we would have to answer to a higher power.  Belief in God and an afterlife restricted the American people from violating the ten commandments.  Today, the progressives have perverted the definition of separation of church and state to the fullest.  When Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States in 1831 he wrote this:

                        Religion in America…takes no direct part in the government of the society, but it must beregarded as the first of their political institutions… I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion-for who can search the human heart–but I am certain that they hold it indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens of to a party, but it belongs to the whole nation and to every rank of society.” 

                When the founders wrote the first amendment, they did not mean all separation of church and state.  They created that amendment because they wanted a religiously tolerant government.  In other words they did not want a national religion because there are countless number of religions in America.  They left it up to the states to decide if they wanted a state religion.  In fact, seven states officially established state religions.  Connecticut and Massachusetts adopted the Congressional Church; Delaware and Maryland the Christian faith; New Hampshire, New Jersey, and South Carolina adopted the Protestant faith.  The founders clearly stated in their writings that the first amendment was designed to forever eliminate the interference of the federal government in any religious matters within the states.  Madison stated: “There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermeddle with religion.  Its least interference with it should be a most flagrant usurpation.”  So, like I stated earlier, the founders left it up to the state governments.

                Religion was meant to be, and was taught in schools in America for over a century.  This was not favoring, for example, the Buddhist teachings over the Christian beliefs.  The founders wanted the “American Religion” to be taught.  These were five values every religion contains, so there would be no controversy, and it would keep in place the foundation of America.  They are:

1.       There exists a Creator who made all things and mankind should recognize and worship him.

2.       The Creator has revealed a moral code of behavior for happy living which distinguishes right from wrong.

3.       The Creator holds mankind responsible for the way they treat each other.

4.       All mankind live beyond this life. 

5.       In the next life mankind are judged for their conduct in this one. 

Starting during the progressive era, the Government started to take the first amendment literally.  While there was a wall put up between the federal government and religion, the courts started to put up a wall between the states and religion.  This effectively locked out the 5 principles of religion to be taught in taxpayer schools.  This is why religion in America has been on the decline over the past century.  Because religion is locked out of schools, kids are only taught science, and people like me, before I started believing again, viewed science as more logical.  Because they do not associate themselves in being religious, there is less will for them to do good.  For example, why would they help out others if it is not beneficial to themselves, because it’s not like they are going to be judged when they die.  As religion fades away, the Government needs to come in and fill that gap by creating laws and punishment to prevent, for example, murder.  If everyone believed in an afterlife, they would be much less likely to commit such a treacherous act. 

                Religion is the foundation of America.  If that fades away, we will lose our freedoms.  The five basic principles of religion must be taught in schools again to restore our country to how it was.  92 percent of Americans believe in a God or universal spirit, so why must we keep it out of the school system for the 8 percent who do not?  Our Government has changed dramatically, and as a result we have lost many freedoms since the beginning of the progressive era.  It’s time to take back our country, and bring us back to how things were. 

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

9. April 2010 by student.

Bullying is somethng that occurs at all ages, many place and all over the world.  Bullying is increasing among girls in the United States.  The top 5 places where the bullying is the worst are 1. California, 2. New York, 3. Illinois, 4. Pennsylvania, 5. Washington.  It is said that high school incidents are not dropping with a 15% reporting at least 1 to 3 times in the last month and 3.4% of 10x or more.  It is also shown that 23% of elementary shool students report being bullied 1 to 3 times in the last month.  At least half of all incidents go unreported.  These facts are very sad and scary, but the fact that 100,000 students carry a gun to school in the U.S. is even more scary.  Bullying can occur at school and the latest is cyber-bullying.  It is shown that 77% of kids are bullied mentally, physically, and verbally.  We don’t always think of the girls being the ones that are bullied, but they are.  Yes bullying happens more frequently among boys, but girl bullying is increasing.  A typical girl who bullies is popular, well liked by adults, does well in school, and can even bully their friends.  Most girls do not fight, although some of them do.  Many girls spread rumors, gossip, backstab, ignore, and tease about weight and clothes.  The damaged that is caused is usually long term with these girls that are bullied such as drop in grades, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, drug use, poor eating habits and much more.  These are very scary facts.  Most of us at some point in our schooling have had some experience with bullying, possibly on both or either end of the stick.  The teenage years is usually when it is the worst.  The teenage years is a very critical time when self image and self identity is being formed.  Being a teen is hard enough without having to deal with being bullied.  We need to teach our kids that this is unacceptable behavior and understand that the adults and teachers at the schools may not be aware or even know how to deal with bullying.  We need to teach our girls to be nonviolent and not to be the victim.  We have to teach them to have self confidence and to say “no” to these bullies.  We should have our adult friends involved with our kids and get to know the parents of your daughters friends.  Do not excuse your childs behavior, but do not overreact either.  Teach your child how to combat psychological and verbal bullying by:

1. ignore the bully and walk away

2. hold the anger

3. don’t get physical

4. practice confidence

5. say “no”

6. talk about it

7. find true friends

It can be a very difficult thing to deal with bullying, but we as parents must take control of our kids.  Some of these effects can be very long term and sometimes even death.  There have been many incidents recently in the news of severe bullying causing children to commit suicide.  I have a 14 year old daughter and she has told me quite a few times of girls teasing her and a friend for being fat.  Yet my daughter is not even fat, but yes she has gained a little bit of weight, so what.  This is why we have some of our teenage girls with eating disorders.  As for my daughters friend, she didnt even want to go to school the next day.  This is very  sad.  I teach both of my kids that this type of behavior is unacceptable and the students teasing them should be disciplined if it continues.  Yes many believe that kids will be kids, and to a point yes, but not at the expense of some of our kids taking their own lives.  There are forms of bullying that is said to be criminal and can hold up in a court of law.  Ultimately it is the responsibility of the parent to be open and honest with their children and make it clear to them that it is NOT acceptable to bully or be bullied

how-to-stop-bullying.com 2009

Posted in Social Problems | 3 Comments »